Tonbridge and Malling

Tonbridge and Malling's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure, religion and work life.

The population passed 120,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Tonbridge and Malling increased by 12%, from almost 108,000 to 121,000.

The addition of just over 13,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tonbridge and Malling was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Tonbridge and Malling.

The percentage of households in Tonbridge and Malling that rented privately increased from 6.0% in 2001 to 10% in 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 16%, while the percentage of Tonbridge and Malling households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 71%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Tonbridge and Malling increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Tonbridge and Malling

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 16,000 in 2001 to just under 33,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 82,000 in 2001 to about 77,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 8,400 to about 8,500. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.8% to 7.0%.

About 750 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 330 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Tonbridge and Malling increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Tonbridge and Malling working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Tonbridge and Malling decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.4% to 3.9% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Tonbridge and Malling residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Tonbridge and Malling decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Tonbridge and Malling, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Tonbridge and Malling

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling from the White ethnic groups increased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Tonbridge and Malling from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 760 in 2001 to just over 2,400 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 2.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 760 to just under 1,700 (from 0.7% to 1.4%).

Just over 420 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 150 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Tonbridge and Malling decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Tonbridge and Malling by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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